Train-order hoop



Dec. 17, 1929. s. sMlTH 1,740,206-

TRAIN ORDER HOOP Filed May 28 1927* FIE E FIS-E- INVENTOR i Y ifa/W75 5/77/#1 wir Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES STEPHEN SMITH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TRAIN-ORDER HOOP Application led May 28,

My invention relates to devices used by train men for transferring train orders from the ground to moving trains.

It is the custom in transferring orders from the ground to a passing train to clip a piece of paper bearing the orders to a suitable holder which is held to be easily grasped by a. train man as the train passes by. The paper containing the orders is detached from the holder which is then tossed from the moving` train to be retrieved later. Such hard usage renders the life of ordinary holders short. It is usual toprovide a clip on the holder for frictionally retaining the order sheet. In wet Weather the paper becomes damp and tears easily and the train man must use great care in removing it from the clip. This is particularly the ease when the orders are received by the engineer who usually is further handicapped by gloves.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a train order holder which is sturdy and which will stand considerable rough usage.

Another object of my invention is to provide a train order holder from which the train orders can readily be detached.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a train order holder which can easily be operated by train men wearing gloves.

My invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the train order hoop of my invention, which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of train order hoop embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention, as set for th in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows in side elevation one form of the train order holder of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of the train order holder, the plane of section being indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. l.

1927. serial No. 194,871.

Fig. 3 is also a section of my train order holder, the plane of section being indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 sho-ws in side elevation the spring clip of the train order holder.

The train order holder of my invention preferably comprises a piece of resilient material bent upon itself to form a'closed hoop and having` thereon a spring clip for holdingtrain orders, the clip being readily pperated by movement thereof toward the loop.

In the preferred form of the invention disclosed in the drawings, I provide a holder in the form of a hoop which is preferably constructed of a single piece of resilient material, usually rattan or a similar vegetable growth. The rattan is shaped to provide a straight staff 6 and is bent upon itself and crossed to form a closed loop 7. The cross sectional shape of the material forming` the hoop is preferably round and the portions which cross each other are pref era-bly held together by a single pivot pin 8 which permits relative rotational movement between the crossed portions. This construction is advantageous as it permits the material to give resiliently to take up the shock when the hoop is thrown from a moving train so that the hoop yields instead of breaking.

The pivot pin is enlarged at one end and is spaced from the material of the hoop by a curved washer 9 which forms a bearing for the motion between the pivot pin and the material of the hoop. The other end of the pivot pin is bent over to retain in place a lever fulcrum' 11. This fulcrum forms part of a spring clip for holding the train orders in placev on the hoop. rIhe fulcrum preferably comprisesa sheet metal body having bands 12 lpartially encompassing the hoop to aid in holding the lever fulcrum in place. Two ears 13 and 14 project in opposite directions from the body of the lever fulcrum and form the pivotal points for a clip lever 16.

I have'provided clip lever 16 for retaining the train orders in place since it can easily be released even by an operator wearing gloves as he has only to pinch one end of the levertoward the material of the hoop. The

clip lever comprises a pair of down turned tions of said material to permit pivotal moveflanges 17 and 18 struck from the sheet metal ment thereof and to hold said clip in place. of which the lever is made and perforated to In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set pivot about the ears 13 and 14:. One end 19 of the lever is shaped to conform closely to the contour of the hoop material and is for retaining the train orders in place on the hoop. The other end 21 of the clip lever is normally spaced from the loop 7 and is held in place resiliently by a leaf spring 22 which underlies Jehe bent end of pivot pin 8. The spring urges the end 21 of the leveraway from the hoop thereby forcing the end 19 to lie closely against the hoop.

In using my train order hoop the operator standing on the ground depresses the end 21 of the clip lever toward the loop'7 thereby raising the portion 19 for reception of the paper containing the train orders. l/Vith the orders clipped in place the train order hoop is held by staff 6 so that the train man can thrust his arm thru the loop 7 as the train passes by. The train man without even removing his gloves can release the paper con taining the orders by depressing the portion 21 toward the loop 7 thereby raising the lever end 19. This removal is easily accomplished despite the fact that the paper may have been exposed to the rain and is easily mutilated. When he has extracted the train orders the train man tosses the hoop from the train. The hoop is in no wise damaged by impact with the ground as the single pivotal connection adjacent the crossed portions permits full advantage to be taken of the resiliency of the hoop material.

According to my invention a train order hoop is constructed to withstand considerable abuse and is provided with a clip for retaining train orders which will permit their unhampered release.

I claim:

1. A train order hoop comprising a continuous piece of resilient material bent upon itself to form a closed loop, and a pivot providing the sole connection between crossing portions of said material, whereby said 'crossing portions are free to move pivotally` with respect to each other.

2. A train order hoop comprising a piece of material looped and crossed upon itself,

and a connection adjacent said crossed pormy hand.

tions allowing relative pivotal movement of K said crossed portions.

3. A train order hoop comprising a piece of resilient material looped and crossed upon itself, and a pivot pin passing through said crossed portions, and forming the sole connection therebetween whereby said portions are free to pivot with respect to each other.

4:. A train order hoop comprising a piece of resilient material crossed upon itself to form a closed loop, a clip on said hoop, and a single pivot pin passing thru the crossed por- STEPHEN SMITH. 

